Snedeker keeps on rolling at Torrey

Tiger Woods hits from the bunker behind the 18th green of the South Course at Torrey Pines during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
— AP

Tiger Woods hits from the bunker behind the 18th green of the South Course at Torrey Pines during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
/ AP

More than one-third of the field - 56 players - shot in the 60s. The eight players at 66 included Charles Howell, who tied for third in the Sony Open and lost in a playoff last week in the Humana Challenge, and Mike Weir of Canada, who took a big step toward showing his form is returning. Weir has not made a cut since 2011.

Tag Ridings made a hole-in-one on the third hole on the South Course and was in the group at 67 that also included Bo Van Pelt.

The biggest mystery was Choi. He is not a regular at Torrey Pines, skipped last year and was planning to miss it again. That was until he heard from his host family in San Diego that the South Korean community wanted to see him play. Choi put on quite a show. He finally got some height and spin into shots while warming up on the range, and he converted that into the best round on the South.

He ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine - he started on No. 10 - and no shot was more pleasing than a wedge into a light crosswind on the 15th hole that settled inches from the cup.

"Best shot ever on the South Course - ever," he said, grinning.

This tournament is murky in any weather until the weekend. Of those 56 players who broke 70, only 19 of them played the South Course. Of the PGA Tour events on multiple courses, few of them have a greater contrast, although the score differential has been much greater than 1 1/2 strokes in recent years.

"The real one is tomorrow," Howell said after his 66 on the North.

Howell lost in a playoff last week in the Humana Challenge, and he started his season with a tie for third at the Sony Open. Whatever disappointment he felt in the California desert, he was able to shake off quickly. And he wasn't alone.

Scott Stallings lost a five-shot lead in the Humana Challenge and bogeyed the par-5 closing hole to miss the playoff. He bounced back with a 66.

Phil Mickelson had quite the taxing day. His 72 felt even higher considering he was playing with Snedeker, who was firing at flags and holing his putts. A three-time winner at Torrey Pines, Mickelson's week began with comments about the amount of taxes he is paying in California, followed by two rounds of apologies for not keeping his opinions to himself.

That wasn't a problem for him Thursday.

"I've been playing better than this, and there's no excuses," Mickelson said. "I've got to get my head a little bit more focused on the shots, and I haven't been as focused starting out. Hopefully, I'll be able to turn that around tomorrow and start a little bit more effectively in the future."